TO THE READER 13 



practice ; and so must angling. And note also that 

 in this Discourse I do not undertake to say all that is 

 known, or may be said of it, but I undertake to acquaint 

 the reader with many things that are not usually known 

 to every angler ; and I shall leave gleanings and observa- 

 tions enough, to be made out of the experience of all 

 that love and practise this recreation, to which I shall 

 encourage them. For angling may be said to be so 

 like the mathematics, that it can never be fully learnt ; 

 at least not so fully, but that there will still be more 

 new experiments left for the trial of other men that 

 succeed us. 



But I think all that love this game may here learn 

 something that may be worth their money, if they be 

 not poor and needy men ; and in case they be, I then 

 wish them to forbear to buy it, for I write not to get 

 money, but for pleasure, and this Discourse boasts of 

 no more ; for I hate to promise much and deceive the 

 reader. 



And however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have 

 found a high content in the search and conference of 

 what is here offered to the reader's view and censure : I 

 wish him as much in the perusal of it, and so I might here 

 take my leave ; but will stay a little and tell him, that 

 whereas it is said by many that in fly-fishing for a trout 

 the angler must observe his twelve several flies for the 

 twelve months of the year : I say, he that follows that 

 rule shall be as sure to catch fish, and be as wise, as 

 he that makes hay by the fair days in an almanac, and 

 no surer ; for those very flies that use to appear about 

 and on the water in one month of the year, may the 

 following year come almost a month sooner or later, 

 as the same year proves colder or hotter ; and yet, in 

 the following Discourse, I have set down the twelve 

 flies that are in reputation with many anglers, and they 

 may serve to give him some observations concerning 



